Ice tray



J. H. MINER Aug. 5, 1941.

ICE TRAY Filed July 19, 1957 JW iner, Mal/(WM James Jf.

for refrigerators. 'to provide a tray from which a few ice cubes may Patented Aug. 5, 1941 U NI TED STATES PAT EN T *QF F LGE ICE ERAY JamesH. Miner, Meridian, Miss. Application July 19, 1937, Serial'No. 154,501

.(Cl. 62-4685) I 15 Claims.

The invention concerns ice tray organizations One object of the invention is be extracted, or if demand for a larger number exists, these can be supplied.

The invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a plan View. s

Fig. 2 is a similar view of 'a portion of'theorganization showing the parts in operated position. I

Fig. 3 shows a portion of a tray in side elevation embodying my invention.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view ofatray showing in dotted lines the spread'apart position of the upwardly and outwardly inclined sides of the tray.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a clip removably mounted on a part of thegrid.

Fig. 6 shows 'a portion of a tray in s'ideeleva- .tion utilizing an insertable cam-end tool or lever.

In the drawing 1 indicates a tray of elongated form composed of metal. 'Within this tray .re-

movable grid means is arranged composed or two end sections, one of these being indicated at A and the other at B. These grid sections extend substantially from the end walls of thetray in- Each of the sections of the grid 'is composedof a longitudinally extending partition or bar '2 set up on edge and reaching from the bottom of the tray to a level about the same as that of the upper edges of the tray walls, though this height of the center bar 2 may be variecl in respect to the level of the upper edges of the tray walls. Each section of the grid also comprises fins or partitions 3 extending transversely of the tray and attached at their inner-ends to the longitudinally extending partitions or bars 2. These transverse fins, together with the center bar or partition 2 divide the space into cube forming pockets indicated at a, b, in which pockets the water is frozentomake'the'ic'e cubes. The transverse partitions 3 may be of resilient metal 'so as to flex from their normal positions at right angles to the center bar 2 when the grid section is stressedby pressure exerted thereon, tending to move it towards'the lengthwise center of l the tray. For moving the grid sections any suitable form of :l-ever may be :employed, and I show as anexample a lever -4 at each end of the tray pivotally mounted upon a pin'5, supp'o'rted'by the tray structure, each lever having an eccentric or cam portionffi adapted, when the lever is mov'ed'from its normal position, to act upon the end 'of the g-r-id; which may be provided with a cross piece 'or plate'l to afford-a surface or bearing upon 'which' the eccentric or cam portion "6 ofthe l'evermay operate. "The handle portion or each levrwhen in normal position "extends in a direction generally lengthwise of the tray organization, such ha'ndle portion being indicated at 4a.

In order to'ope'ra'te the grid sectionthe lever is moved from the -pos'ition s'hown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the eccentric por' tion 6 will bear upon thecross piece or plate "I, and thus'thrus't the center bar 2 of the grid 'in a direction lengthwise of the tray towards the lengthwise center thereof. This will cause the transverse 'fins or-partitions 3 to exert pressure upon the ice cubes for the purpose of cracking them loose from thebottom and I side walls of "the tray.

'Inorder that the grid sections may be permitted to move under the-stress of the lever as 'just described, I prefer to provide means for occupying the center portion of the organization, said means beingo f a yielding character, thereby providing a member which will yield under pressure from the grid sections when these sections are subjected to pressure-tending to move "them towards the lengthwise center of the tray. This yielding member may be made up of rubber, and as indicated generally at 'C, it may conever, provides an iceless area which will allow the movement of the grid sections to take place, 'virtuallyto an extent'whi-ch wouldbepermitted werethe space, occupied by this rubber cross partition, vacant. p

The 'ends of the cross rubber partition or block are held in position midway of the length of the tray by 'flanges 8. These may be formed on a strip of metal 9 suitably secured to the inner side of theside wall of the tray. The rubber block is preferably faced with metal in the form of a strip or plate [9, said metal being resilient or in the form of a spring with its ends bearing on the strips 9 at the inner sides of the tray wall so that a bow shaped formation is provided, which, upon receiving pressure, from the grid, will tend to straighten out, and thus exert outward pressure on the sides of the tray, bulging them out slightly, and thus aiding in the cracking of the walls of the tray from freezing contact with the ice cubes.

This action is illustrated in Fig. 2 in which the sides of the tray are shown pressed slightly outward from their normal position of Fig. 1, and the bow-shaped spring or face plate of the rubber partition has assumed a position straight across the central portion of the tray.

It will be noted in Fig. 2 that the ice cubes nearest the center of the length of the tray find a bearing on the projections or flanges 8, which bearing may be regarded as a fulcrum point about which the ice cubes nearest the center will turn. In other words, these ice cubes will be subjected to a twistingaction owing to the fact that their corners bearing on the flanges 9 will be restrained against movement, whereas the portions of the ice cubes adjacent the center bar 2 will be subject to the pressure tending to move them towards the lengthwise center of the tray, with the result that the ice cubes will be subjected to a twisting or tilting action. During this action the fins or transverse partitions 3 will flex to the inclined positions shown in Fig. 2, and thus all of the ice cubes subjected to the pressure of this grid section shown in Fig. 2, will likewise be subjected to a twisting stress.

The invention is not limited to the form of rubber partition having the tapered ends as shown in Fig. 1, nor to the use of the bow-shaped springs It, and various modifications may be made in the structure without departing from the spirit of the invention. It will be noted that for operating the grid sections the levers 4a would be moved in opposite directions, that is, for operating the lever at the right of Fig. 1, the lever handle Art will be moved towards the right, whereas in order to operate the grid section at the left of Fig. 1, the handle of the lever at that end of the organization would be swung towards the left.

The yielding partition may be made of a substantially solid piece of rubber, sponge rubber, or other resilient material, or may be hollow.

It should yield readily to pressure so as not to add any material resistance to the movement of the grid. The metal bow l acts as a member to shield the rubber member from wear. Fig. 2 indicates that only the right hand lever has been operated, the bow I!) at the left of the rubber partition still being of normal bow shape.

The sides and ends of the tray may incline upwardly and outwardly from each other.

By dividing the grid into sections the operation of the tray can be performed with comparatively little effort, it being obvious that it is easier to move a section containing say siX cubes than it is to move an entire grid containing say twelve cubes. Clips shown at I! may be employed. These have their lower ends turned outwardly to be embedded in the ice so that when the cubes are loosened they can be withdrawn from the grid by lifting the clip. These clips may be made of metal with two legs or members connected at their upper ends. They straddle the center bar and are readily removable therefrom when the cubes are loosened by taking hold of their upper ends. The dotted lines in Fig. 2 indicate the turned lower ends of the side members of these clips. The ends of the fins may be made to conform substantially to the sides of the tray.

Broadly speaking I have provided a tray organization with a grid in sections operable independently at opposite ends of the tray. If few cubes are desired, only one grid section need be operated. If all the cubes are desired for use at one time, both grid sections may be operated, and in doing so these sections may be operated independently or simultaneously. In the latter event the operating forces would be opposed to each other, one lever moving rightward and the other lever moving leftward on its effective stroke, one result being that the tray would not need to be independently held in position during the operation because the tendency of one lever to move the tray in one direction would be countered by the tendency of the other lever to move the tray in the opposite direction. This would be true not only when the levers are mounted permanently on a part of the organization, but also if levers are used which are unmounted but are adapted to fulcrum on a part of the organization when placed in position for operation.

I do not limit myself to the horizontal arrangement of the levers, nor to the direction in which they move in performing their working strokes. Furthermore, a lever separate from the tray may be employed, i. e. not mounted on the tray organization, so that it may be used for all trays used in the refrigerator.

Where a partition inserted into place is used both compartments will be filled with water. Otherwise in case of leakage the water level would be lowered by the water passing from one compartment to the other. As to this compartment feature of the invention, it will be noted that broadly considered I have provided a tray with a plurality of compartments with a grid section individual to each compartment which not only enables fewer cubes than the whole number to be removed, but even if all the cubes are desired the effort in breaking them loose is reduced.

The invention is not limited to the form and arrangement of parts, the scope of said invention being defined by the appended claims indicating that modifications may be made within the purview of the invention.

The bow shaped spring does not cover the whole face of the rubber partition but is of comparatively narrow depth, but sufficient to act upon the upper portions of the tray side walls. These walls as well as the end walls, incline upwardly and outwardly.

The use of a tool not permanently mounted on the organization is illustrated in Fig. 6.

This tool, in the form of a hand lever 43:, fulcrums at In: on a projection formed on the tray, and acts against the projection laformed on the grid.

The partition C of deformable or yielding material, by yielding to the pressure of the grid section, compensates for the changed position of the grid when pressure is exerted thereon to displace the said grid in a direction lengthwise of the tray. In other words, this member yields under the said movement of the grid. I do not limit myself, however, to the exact form of this compensating member so long as it performs the function of initially excluding water and ice from a certain portion of the interior of the tray, and provides for the occupancy of this space or portion by a part of the grid when this is pressed or moved along the tray.

I claim:

1. An ice tray organization comprising a tray, a grid positioned therein and made up of a pair of sections extending from opposite ends of the tray toward the center thereof, resilient means separating the sections and means for engaging either one of the sections and moving it toward the other section against the resistance of the resilient means for breaking the bond between the ice and the tray organization.

2. An ice tray organization according to claim 1 in which the tray is of elongated form and each grid section is movable in a direction lengthwise of the tray.

3. An ice tray organization according to claim 1 in which a hand lever at each end of the organization moves the grid section adjacent thereto, each hand lever being movable in a direction opposite to that of the other hand lever for releasing the grid with its ice cubes from frozen contact with the tray.

4. An ice tray divided into compartments and a grid in sections, each compartment having one of the grid sections movably mounted therein for displacement bodily therefrom and means for moving the grid sections, said means being located at opposite ends of the tray and engaging the extreme ends of the grid.

5. An ice tray organization for refrigerators comprising a tray, a deformable partition extending across the same dividing the tray into compartments, a grid section in each compartment, and means for moving said grid sections against said partition under pressure suflicient to deform the said partition, when the same said grid is moved towards the lengthwise center of the tray for dislodging the ice, substantially as described.

6. An ice tray having a deformable partition therein dividing the tray into compartments, and a grid section on each side of said partition in said compartments movable against the partition for dislodging the ice, and pressure applying means for moving the grid sections in a direction transverse to the lengthwise dimension of said partition, substantially as described.

7. An ice tray having a grid therein comprising a center bar and lateral fins, a central yielding partition in the tray, lugs on the tray between which said partition is held, said lugs affording bearings for the outer portions of the adjacent ice cubes, means for moving the grid against the yielding partition whereby said grid will move the ice cubes, and those cubes whose outer portions bear on the said lugs will be given a turning movement, substantially as described.

8. An ice tray organization comprising a tray proper, a grid therein having a center bar and laterally extending fins, a hand lever fulcrumed on the tray to bear on the end of the center bar for moving the grid along the tray, and a yielding partition extending across the tray at a point spaced apart from the end walls of the tray, against which the grid presses when moved lengthwise of the tray, substantially as described.

9. An ice tray having a yielding partition therein, a grid in the tray in sections, one on each side of said partition, a spring member on each side of said partition providing facings therefor, said spring members being of bow shape and each of an overall length exceeding the normal width of the tray at the region where the partition is located, said spring members being borne upon by the grid sections, and means for moving the grid sections against the said spring members thereby causing the spring members to flatten from their bow shapes, compressing the yielding partition, and spreading the side walls of the tray.

10. An ice tray organization comprising an elongated tray, grid sections extending from the ends thereof towards each other, a deformable partition extending across the tray and between the grid sections, and a lever for each grid section fulcruming on the end wall of the tray, said levers being operable either singly or simultaneously to force the grid section, or sections, against said deformable partition, substantially as described.

11. An ice tray organization comprising a tray and a grid in said tray, a member of yielding material seated in the tray allowing relative movement between the grid and tray and a metallic facing member bearing on said yielding member taking the pressure and wear resulting from the said relative movement, the said grid contacting said metallic facing member.

12. An ice tray organization comprising a tray, a grid therein, a deformable member therein capable of changing its form under pressure, said deformable member being spaced apart from the end walls of the tray and adapted to receive pressure from said member, the sides of said tray yielding outwardly when the member is deformed under pressure of the grid, and means for moving the grid bodily relative to the tray and bodily against the deformable member, substantially as described.

13. An ice tray organization according to claim 10 in which the lever at one end of the tray is operable in the opposite direction from that at the other end of the tray for initiating the cracking of the ice cubes away from frozen engagement with the tray organization, substantially as described.

14. In combination, an ice tray of elongated form, a partition extending across the same, dividing said tray into two compartments, said partition being of rubber, a grid in each compartment having a portion thereof for pressing the rubber and deforming the same, and lever means fulcruming upon the tray end and engaging the grid to force it against the said partition, said partition deforming under said pressure.

15. A tray organization according to claim 14 in which said rubber partition seals the tray against passage of the water from compartment to compartment, and by its body occupies space that otherwise would be occupied by water in the tray.

JAMES H. MINER. 

